Canada to Ban Four Chemicals from Cosmetics
As part of its ongoing review of chemicals, Canada plans to ban the use of four substances from cosmetics. The government will further investigate some of the substances and possibly ban them from other products. Read More
The Canadian government plans to ban four chemicals from being used in cosmetics due to concerns for human health, and the government will study some of them further and possibly restrict their use in other products.
The chemicals were part of a batch of 19 substances the government looked at as part of its ongoing assessment of chemicals. The banned substances are 2-methoxyethanol acetate, 2-methy-1-propanol, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethanol and Pigment Red 3, and current exposure to them is very low, according to Health Canada and Environment Canada.
o 2-methoxyethanol acetate is an ingredient in some nail polishes, dry cleaning treatments and glues, and exposure to it may interfere with fertility and harm developing fetuses.
o 2-methy-1-propanol may also hurt fetal development. It is used to make another substance (propylene glycol monomethyl ether, or PGME), which is found in some nail polish, nail polish remover, hair spray, hair dye and false eyelash adhesive and remover. Products with PDME may contain traces of 2-methy-1-propanol.
o 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethanol is a concern for fertility and fetuses as well, and is found in some hairsprays, skin creams and cleansers and as a fragrance ingredient, listed as methoxydiglycol.
o Pigment Red 3, mainly found in paint but also used in a small number of cosmetics, has been found to cause cancer in some tests on laboratory animals.
The government plans to further study the use of 2-methy-1-propanol in food packaging, since it can be present as an impurity in solvents used to make paperboard and plastic packaging.
The government will also study 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethanol’s use in some latex paints, paint removers, sealants, floor cleaners and food packaging.
Among the 15 other chemicals examined along with these four substances, 11 were found to pose no risk to human health or the environment. The remaining four pose no immediate risks, but could be harmful if widely used, so the government plans to propose restrictions that would prevent them from being used further without first undergoing new assessments.
Nail polish – photo CC license by pinkiwinkitinki
